Horror Films Directed by Women

A horrifying list of thriller flicks made by women for you to watch this Halloween.

With Halloween approaching, the weather getting colder and days getting darker, a fun indoor activity is watching a scary movie cuddled up in blankets with a cup of hot cocoa. Finding a great thriller may be difficult enough but what about finding a great thriller directed by a female director? Big time horror film producer, Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity, The Purge, Get Out, and most recently, Halloween), said there was a lack of women directors, specifically in the horror genre, but fear no more.

We’ve compiled a list of successful, frightening horror movies directed by women for you to check out.

American Psycho (2000), directed by Mary Harron

This film is about “a rich New York City investment banking executive who hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he delves deeper into his violent, hedonistic fantasies.” A classic horror.

Jennifer’s Body (2009), directed by Karyn Kusama

Kusama appears twice on the list and for good reason. This film centers around “a newly possessed high school cheerleader turns into a succubus who specializes in killing her male classmates.”

American Mary (2012), directed by the Soska Sisters, Jen and Sylvia Soska

The Soska sisters are a pair not to be reckoned with. “The allure of easy money sends Mary Mason, a medical student, into the world of underground surgeries which ends up leaving more marks on her than her so called ‘freakish’ clients.”

“Carrie” (2013), directed by Kimberly Peirce

A slightly more realistic plot line, Carrie is a film about “a shy girl, outcast by her peers and sheltered by her religious mother. She unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom.”

“Babadook” (2014), directed by Jennifer Kent

This one’s on the top of every horror-fanatic’s list. “A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her husband, battles with her son’s fear of a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.”

“Honeymoon” (2014), directed by Leigh Janiak

I’m sure we’ve all heard creepy myths and bonfire stories like this one… “A honeymooning bride goes sleepwalking into the woods surrounding a secluded cabin. When she returns she looks the same, but something about her is frighteningly different.”

“The Invitation” (2015), directed by Karyn Kusama

The Invitation takes place at a man’s dinner party at his former house when he catches on to his ex-wife and her new husband’s horrifying plans for the guests.

Raw (2016), directed by Julia Ducournau

A recent horror flick, Raw, is about a teenage girl, while studying to be a vet, develops a craving for human flesh.